Raceway starts 'fan council' for input

Pocono Raceway admits it's a little behind the curve on creating a group of fans to offer input about the track.

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By MICHAEL SADOWSKI

poconorecord.com

By MICHAEL SADOWSKI

Posted Nov. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By MICHAEL SADOWSKI

Posted Nov. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Pocono Raceway admits it's a little behind the curve on creating a group of fans to offer input about the track.

"I think we're actually one of the last tracks to do it," said track President and CEO Brandon Igdalsky.

But the Long Pond track is trying to make up for lost time now, announcing it will form a "fan council" to help make the experience at Pocono Raceway more rewarding.

The council will be made up of 20 fans brought together in person or through conference calls to comment on potential changes, advertising campaigns or fan outreach initiatives.

While the council's opinion isn't the final word, it will play a large part.

"It's more in-depth than a focus group," Igdalsky said. "These will be die-hard Pocono Raceway fans that have a connection to the track. We're going to be getting honest feedback from them."

It's been an up-and-down year for fans at the track.

In August, after the completion of the track's second NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the season, a lightning strike killed one fan in the parking lot and injured about 10 more. Track officials then took heat for not postponing the race sooner with the weather advisory for a lightning storm and for possibly not making people aware enough of the danger.

The track has said it is reviewing its lightning storm policies after the incident.

But in November, the announcement came down that IndyCar racing would return to the track in 2013. Igdalsky said it was fan interest that brought Indy racing back to Pocono.

"This is just the right time to do something like this," he said. "With the addition of the Indy race, it's good to have fans' perspective."

Igdalsky said members of the panel will be treated to tickets for races and other track gifts.

Additional information and an application to serve on the council are available at poconoraceway.com/fancouncil.